Final answer:
A physical property can be observed or measured without changing the substance's chemical identity. Examples include color, hardness, and melting point. These properties are distinct from chemical properties, which involve chemical change.
Step-by-step explanation:
A physical property is a characteristic of a material or an object that can be observed or measured without changing the substance's chemical identity. Examples of physical properties include color, hardness, malleability, electrical conductivity, density, melting point, and boiling point. For instance, silver has the physical property of being shiny and an excellent conductor of electricity, which stands out without altering its composition.
Another example is salt, which is known for being dull and brittle, and it conducts electricity when dissolved in water. A key characteristic of physical properties is that they do not involve a change in the substance's chemical composition. This differentiates them from chemical properties, which describe how a substance interacts with other substances to create new chemical compounds, such as rust forming from iron.